RICKY BURNS insists he will still be trading punches at 40 – despite his reign as world lightweight champion being ended by Terence Crawford at the SECC in Glasgow on Saturday night.

The Coatbridge ace suffered his third career defeat after being outclassed by the unbeaten American in front of a sell-out crowd of 10,000.

But Burns is refusing to even contemplate throwing in the towel after 26-year-old Crawford took the WBO title on all three judges’ scorecards, 116-112, 116-112, and 117-111.

He said: “I’m 31 in April and I haven’t peaked so you’re stuck with me for another 10 years, at least. I’ll definitely be back.

“This is just a setback. There are still some big fights out there for me. My hunger’s the same, whether or not I’m a world champion.

“The better man won, but it was a lot closer than the judges had it.

“Some of the rounds could have gone either way, but I knew they were going to go against me because of the judging in the last fight.

“I also felt I was letting him steal some of the rounds, allowing him to outwork me, out-jab me, and I could hear my trainer, Billy Nelson, telling me get my second phase of punches off. But every time I was going to throw he was stepping out of reach.

“I was trying to draw the lead off him, but he wasn’t having it, and that’s when I was caught by stupid punches. He was just so awkward.”

Burns refused to blame the broken jaw he suffered against Mexican Raymundo Beltran six months ago as any sort of excuse.

He added: “My jaw’s fine. I sparred with David Brophy, a super-middleweight, and he gave me a few skelps and it held up.

“It was just in my mind to go out there and get on with fighting. The preparations went well, but this was a totally different level and he didn’t surprise me.

“I also made the weight as comfortably as I could. It’s been a lot better since I introduced a strength and conditioning coach, so I’m staying at lightweight for now.

“I have no plans to move up and I would love a rematch, but, domestically, the lightweight division is buzzing, so there are some great fights out there.

“But the way I’d like to go if I don’t get a rematch is chase one of the other world titles, in the knowledge that they are not going to be as tricky as Crawford.”

Trainer Nelson was impressed by the American, adding: “Crawford is an excellent all round fighter and he proved himself exceptional.

“I would have preferred Ricky to have been a wee bit busier, but you can only do what your opponent lets you.”

Crawford’s handlers are highly unlikely to agree to a rematch as he will be chasing bigger money fights in the USA.

But he paid tribute to his opponent, adding: “I have just beaten a good champion. Burns was real tough.

“I caught him with some hard shots and he took them well, getting himself back together real quick.”